The Art of Debate

APPENDIX B

DEBATE TOPICS

The following list of topics is given to aid the debater in choosing satisfactory subjects for debate. The suggestions contained in it are given in topic form, rather than in the form of propositions, for two distinct purposes: First, to give the debater experience in formulating his own propositions; and, second, to make the list more elastic and more permanent.

To aid the debater in choosing subjects that particularly appeal to him, the topics are arranged in groups under headings that indicate their general nature.

Election Machinery.

1. Control of Campaign Contributions. 2. Laws Establishing Compulsory Voting. 3. Abolition of the Electoral College. 4. The System of Nomination by Primaries. 5. Preferential Balloting. 6. The Short Ballot. 7. Uniform Suffrage Requirements. 8. The Initiative and Referendum. 9. The System of Recall. 10. Non-Partisan Municipal Elections.

Federal Government.

1. Adoption of a Responsible Cabinet System. 2. Restriction of Lobbying in Congress. 3. Change in the Date of Presidential Inaugurations. 4. Necessary Changes in the Diplomatic or Consular Service.

State Government.

1. Budget System of Appropriations. 2. Government by Commissions. 3. Sessions of the Legislature. 4. Size of the Lower House. 5. The Pardoning Power of the Governor. 6. Curbing the Representation of Huge Cities. 7. State Police.

City Government.

1. The Commission Form of Government. 2. The City Manager Form of Government. 3. Government Ownership of Public Utilities. 4. Contract System in Municipal Construction Work. 5. Municipal Markets. 6. Municipal Colleges and Universities.

The Courts.

1. Election vs. Appointment of Judges.
2. Reforms in the Jury System.
3. Judge-Made Law.

Systems of Taxation.

1. Protective Tariff Measures.
2. The Income Tax.
3. The Inheritance Tax.
4. The Sales Tax.
5. The Single Tax.
6. The Method of Assessment.
7. The Taxation of Church Property.

Internal Improvements.

1. Conservation Policy.
2. Water-Power Development.
3. Inland Water-Way Development.

4. Anti-Pork Barrel Legislation.

5. Farmers' Aid Projects. Government Ownership and Operation.

1. Government Ownership and Operation of Railroads. 2. Government Ownership and Operation of Telegraphs. 3. Government Ownership and Operation of Merchant

Marine. 4. Government Ownership and Operation of Naval ShipGovernment of Outlying Territories.

Building Plants. 5. Government Control of the Coal Mines. Social Reform.

1. Government Employment Bureaus. 2. Government Aid for Unemployed. 3. Minimum Wage Laws. 4. Workman's Compensation Laws. 5. Compulsory Health Insurance. 6. Old-Age Pensions. 7. Preferential Legislation for War Veterans. 8. Prohibition Enforcement. 9. Regulation of Prize Fights. 10. Sunday Blue Law. 11. Uniform Marriage and Divorce Laws. 12. Motion Picture Censorship. 13. Stage Censorship. 14. Capital Punishment. 15. Prison Reform. 16. Problem of Drug Fiends.

17. The Tipping System. Immigration.

1. Illiteracy among Immigrants.
2. Immigration from Southeastern Europe.
3. Japanese Immigration.
4. Schemes for Americanization.
5. Enforcement of Immigration Laws.
6. Exclusion of Political Agitators.

1. Administration of Panama Canal Zone. 2. Disposition of the Philippines.

Foreign Relations.

1. The Monroe Doctrine. 2. The Integrity of China. 3. The Open-Door Policy. 4. The Freedom of the Seas. 5. Self-Determination. 6. International Coöperation. 7. Foreign Alliances. 8. American British Relations. 9. American-French Relations. 10. American-German Relations. 11. American-Russian Relations. 12. American-Japanese Relations. 13. American-Near East Problems. 14. American-Far East Problems. 15. American-Mexican Problems. 16. American-Central American Problems.

The World Peace Movement.

1. A League of Nations.
2. A World Court.
3. A Super-State.
4. A Balance of Power.
5. Disarmament.
6. Military Training.
7. Army and Navy Policies.

Industrial Problems.

1. Women in Industry.
2. Children in Industry.
3. Industrial Democracy.
4. Coöperative Organizations.

5. The Closed vs. the Open Shop. 6. Compulsory Arbitration. 7. Kansas Industrial Court. 8. The Power of Injunction to Prevent Strikes. 9. Unionization of Government Employés. 10. Formation of a Labor Party. 11. Anti-Strike Legislation. 12. The Plumb Plan. 13. Industrial Detective Agencies. 14. The Adamson Law.

15. Outlaw Labor Unions. Education.

1. Co-education. 2. The Gary School System. 3. High-School Fraternities. 4. Free Textbooks in Public Schools. 5. Inadequacy of High-School Preparation for College. 6. Examination System for Entrance to College. 7. Prescribed Courses in College. 8. Prerequisites for Professional Study. 9. The Four-Quarter System vs. the Semester System. 10. A Three-Year College Course. 11. Regulation of Extra-Curriculum Activities. 12. College Credit for Extra-Curriculum Activities. 13. The Honor System in College Examinations. 14. Professionalism in College Athletics.

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